We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Greece and the Gods of Neo-Liberalism

My thanks to Khalil Bendib from Jadaliyya.

In case you didn't know, Greek authorities have been acting as enforcers for the Israeli government to prevent Flotilla 2 from leaving Greek ports in order to bring humanitarian supplies through the Israeli blockage of Gaza. 

The current Prime Minister Papandreou, and his father before him, were carefully indoctrinated and supported by US political operatives to enforce neo-liberal policies in Greece which have led to the current crisis.